Mr Michael Lowry TD, the former minister, has said he is "confident" that he will meet the new obligations on Oireachtas members concerning their tax status by next month's deadline.
Failure to meet the obligations could result in indefinite suspension from the Dáil without pay.
Mr Lowry is believed to face serious difficulties in meeting the new requirements on all Oireachtas members either to provide a tax clearance certificate or a statement from the Revenue Commissioners that one has been applied for.
This documentation must be produced within nine months of a general election.
Under new electoral legislation now being applied for the first time, the deadline for sitting deputies is February 17th next.
Mr Lowry's finances are still under examination by the Moriarty tribunal and he has been found to have failed to disclose income to the Revenue Commissioners.
While Mr Lowry declined to discuss the matter yesterday, he was until recently still in discussion with the Revenue and a final settlement had not been reached.
Oireachtas members who cannot obtain a tax clearance certificate because they are in dispute with the Revenue can instead submit a statement from the Revenue that they have applied for such a certificate.
The Revenue Commissioners can refuse to grant such a statement if all avenues of appeal have been exhausted and they are simply awaiting payment of a final assessment. It is not known what stage Mr Lowry's dealings with the Revenue Commissioners have reached at present.
When contacted yesterday, Mr Lowry expressed confidence that he would fulfil the requirements, but said that he could not discuss the matter.
If an Oireachtas member fails to produce the documentation, the Standards in Public Office Commission investigates the situation and reports to the relevant House, the Dáil or Seanad. The Oireachtas Members' Interests Committee then decides what punishment to recommend to the Dáil, which votes on the matter.
While the Dáil or Seanad can suspend a member indefinitely and without pay, it can also impose a lesser penalty. The Oireachtas cannot remove an elected deputy or senator.
An indefinite suspension ends when the Oireachtas member in question can show that he or she is tax-compliant.